Abstract: A system and method to predict rock strength by directly inverting for petrophysical properties. In one embodiment, seismic data is received or obtained from a seismic survey (step 101). The seismic data are then conditioned (step 103) in order to prepare them for an inversion process (step 105). The inversion process has an embedded rock physics model that allows the inversion to be formulated based upon, and thereby outputting or calculating (step 107), petrophysical properties. Rock strength data may then be calculated from the petrophysical properties (step 109).

Abstract: A system and method to predict rock strength by directly inverting for petrophysical properties. In one embodiment, seismic data is received or obtained from a seismic survey (step 101). The seismic data are then conditioned (step 103) in order to prepare them for an inversion process (step 105). The inversion process has an embedded rock physics model that allows the inversion to be formulated based upon, and thereby outputting or calculating (step 107), petrophysical properties. Rock strength data may then be calculated from the petrophysical properties (step 109).

Abstract: Method for identifying geologic features from geophysical or attribute data using windowed principal component (or independent component) analysis. Subtle features are made identifiable in partial or residual data volumes. The residual data volumes (24) are created by (36) eliminating data not captured by the most prominent principal components (14). The partial data volumes are created by (35) projecting the data on to selected principal components. The method is suitable for identifying physical features indicative of hydrocarbon potential.

Abstract: A method to extract fault surfaces from seismic data (1,3) is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) generating at least two fault sticks (5) from the same fault from at least two slices of the seismic data wherein each slice comprises at least one fault stick from the same fault, (b) constructing an initial three-dimensional fault surface (7) containing the fault sticks, and (c) reconstructing the initial fault surface (9) using a deformable surface model to fit discontinuity or coherency information in the seismic data in an iterative process. Techniques are disclosed for constructing the initial fault surface from interpreter-provided fault nodes, and for performing the deformable surface iteration by defining an energy function for the fault surface and then minimizing the surface energy.

Abstract: A method of analyzing dip in a seismic data volume in which a horizontal gradient is calculated in a first direction in the seismic data volume. A vertical gradient is calculated at data locations in the seismic data volume corresponding to the locations at which the horizontal gradient was calculated. Dip is calculated in the first direction from the horizontal gradient in the first direction and the vertical gradient. Repetition of the process for the entire seismic data volume results in a dip volume.

Abstract: A method of calculating reflection curvature in a seismic data volume wherein an apparent dip value is calculated in a first direction to generate a first apparent dip volume. A horizontal gradient is calculated in the first direction in the first apparent dip volume using a specified length scale to generate a first curvature volume. The process may be repeated one or more times, and the individual curvature volumes combined to generate a combined curvature volume for the seismic data volume.

Abstract: A method of analyzing dip in a seismic data volume in which a horizontal gradient is calculated in a first direction in the seismic data volume. A vertical gradient is calculated at data locations in the seismic data volume corresponding to the locations at which the horizontal gradient was calculated. Dip is calculated in the first direction from the horizontal gradient in the first direction and the vertical gradient. Repetition of the process for the entire seismic data volume results in a dip volume.

Abstract: A method of calculating reflection curvature in a seismic data volume wherein an apparent dip value is calculated in a first direction to generate a first apparent dip volume. A horizontal gradient is calculated in the first direction in the first apparent dip volume using a specified length scale to generate a first curvature volume. The process may be repeated one or more times, and the individual curvature volumes combined to generate a combined curvature volume for the seismic data volume.